Travis Pastrana & Mercury Racing Collab at Lake X to Push New Outboards to the Limit

Scott Way
Aug 13
3 min read

Travis Pastrana is a rare human with a knack for driving literally anything.

The motocross legend turned extreme sports icon has driven seemingly everything on planet Earth that has a motor and a steering wheel -- from Supercross to NASCAR to offshore powerboats and everything in between.

And he hasn't just taken them on leisure tours, either, he's been a serious competitor at every horsepower level known to man.

Pastrana's gas-powered exploits went nautical in recent years, having run in both IUM Class 1 offshore powerboat racing and P1 Offshore, with his propensity for pushing the limits of both his equipment (and himself) well-known among horsepower enthusiasts.

So, when Mercury Racing announced the launch of their new 200R, 300R, and ROS outboard motors, there may have been no better person than Pastrana to test their limits. Which is exactly what happened, as the performance engine builder showcased Pastrana pushing the new platforms to the max.

Pastrana joined Mercury Racing at the legendary Lake X test facility in Florida to put the new 300R outboard with 15-inch HD Conventional MidSection (HD CMS) and the all-new 300 ROS offshore competition outboard through his personal performance test. In Pastrana's lingo, that means running over 100 mph.

“Getting behind the wheel at Lake X was unreal,” said Pastrana. “It’s a place with so much history. Running the two boats powered by the 300R and 300 ROS, I could feel the difference in how each engine is tuned for its purpose. Pure adrenaline, total control and just an awesome day out on the water.” According to Merc, the newest 300hp outboards share a common platform -- a 4.6L V8 high-displacement powerhead. From that foundation, Mercury Racing built two distinct engines.

On the competition side, the 300 ROS is a heavy-duty offshore platform designed exclusively to power race teams across the globe to the top of the podium. It’ll be used for a variety of single- and dual-engine offshore classes. For non-racers, the 300R with the 15-inch HD CMS shares the same competition pedigree as the 300ROS, with the same craftsmanship and durability, but was engineered to provide a modern four-stroke solution that replaces traditional high-output two-strokes on the fastest sport, flats and bass boats. Both the 200R (3.4L V6) and 300R (4.6L V8) four-stroke outboards offer robust, high-RPM performance on 87-octane fuel, making them ideal for repower projects and performance builds from brands like MTI, Skater, Eliminator, Allison, and Bass Cat. “In six seasons of powering the P1 Superstock class with the Mercury Racing 300R outboard and our 20-inch HD CMS we have developed a number of upgraded components designed to best withstand the rigors of offshore racing,” said Mercury Racing Director Jeff Broman. “We’ve incorporated those components into this new 15-inch midsection to give both competition and high-performance recreational boats a new option that offers these very demanding customers extreme durability and the handling benefits of a lower center of gravity.” “These Mercury Racing engines aren’t just for pros or racers,” added Pastrana. “They’re built for anyone who loves to go fast and wants reliable, high-performance power on the water. Whether you’re out chasing top speeds or just having fun, the 300R delivers an experience anyone can get hooked on.” “Pushing limits is what I’ve built my career on, and that’s exactly what Mercury Racing does with their engines,” said Pastrana. “Partnering with a brand that shares that same drive for performance, precision and innovation just makes sense.” The new 15-inch midsection for the 200R, 300R, 200 ROS and 300 ROS will be available for order in late 2025. You can check out Pastrana testing the new outboards in the video below: